68 Economic Survey of Singapore 2021

Chapter 6: Sectoral Performances

TRANSPORTATION &
Chapter 6.5

STORAGE
OVERVIEW
The transportation & storage sector expanded by 7.5 per cent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2021,
extending the 9.2 per cent growth achieved in the previous quarter.

For the whole of 2021, the sector expanded by 5.0 per cent, a reversal from the 20.1 per cent contraction
recorded in 2020. The expansion of the sector was supported largely by the air transport, land transport and
water transport segments.

WATER TRANSPORT AIR TRANSPORT

Container throughput fell by 3.3 per cent year-on-year in
the fourth quarter, reversing the 0.3 per cent expansion in
the previous quarter (Exhibit 6.12). For the full year, the
number of TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) handled
by Singapore’s ports came in at 37.5 million, 1.6 per cent
higher compared to 2020. This was a reversal from the
0.9 per cent contraction recorded in 2020.
Exhibit 6.12: Changes in Container Throughput and Sea
Cargo Handled
Per Cent
15
Container
Throughput
10
5 total air cargo volume was 4.1 per cent higher than that
Sea Cargo
Total air passenger traffic (less transit) handled by Changi
Airport surged by 304 per cent year-on-year in the fourth
quarter, extending the 141 per cent growth in the previous
quarter (Exhibit 6.13). Nonetheless, in absolute terms, the
air passenger traffic volume was only at 8.3 per cent of the
volume seen in the fourth quarter of 2019 (pre-pandemic).
For the full year, total air passenger traffic passing through
Changi Airport declined by 74.0 per cent to come in at 3.0
million, moderating from the 82.8 per cent plunge seen
in 2020. Air passenger traffic volumes across Singapore’s
routes with all major regions around the world saw declines.
At the same time, air cargo volume grew by 30.3 per cent
year-on-year in the fourth quarter, extending the 37.6 per
cent expansion in the previous quarter. In absolute terms,

0 Exhibit 6.13: Changes in Air Transport

Per Cent
-5
500
-10
IV I II III IV 400
2020 2021
300

200
Overall sea cargo volume declined by 0.1 per cent in the
fourth quarter, reversing from the 0.1 per cent growth in 100 Air Passengers Aircraft Landings

the preceding quarter. The fall in sea cargo volume was 0

Air Cargo

largely due to general cargo shipments, which declined

by 1.6 per cent in the fourth quarter, a reversal from the -100
IV I II III IV
1.1 per cent growth registered in the third quarter. 2020 2021

For the whole of 2021, overall sea cargo volume rose by

1.5 per cent, rebounding from the 5.7 per cent decline in
the previous year.
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in the fourth quarter of 2019. For 2021 as a whole, air

cargo shipments rose by 26.1 per cent, rebounding from
the 23.3 per cent contraction in 2020.

Meanwhile, aircraft landings climbed by 64.0 per cent on-

year to reach 16,372 in the fourth quarter, following the
71.0 per cent increase in the third quarter. This brought
the total number of aircraft landings in 2021 to 54,387,
which was 13.3 per cent lower compared to 2020.